His big-game vanishing act can’t be dismissed, but it has overshadowed the fact that Crabtree, viewed by many as a top-10 draft bust, put up No. 1-wideout-worthy numbers during the final two-and-half months of 2011. In the season’s final 11 games, Crabtree had 61 catches for 742 yards and four touchdowns, which would translate to 89 catches, 1,079 yards and six touchdowns over a 16-game season.

During that stretch, Crabtree had more receptions than Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, Kansas City’s Dwayne Bowe and then-Dolphins wideout Brandon Marshall had in their final 11 games. He also had more yards than Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace and as many touchdowns as New England’s Wes Welker.

Crabtree doesn’t have the size, speed or pedigree of Randy Moss. He doesn’t have the big-game heroics of Mario Manningham. And he doesn’t possess the promising clean slate of first-round pick A.J. Jenkins.

Still, while Moss was in retirement, Manningham was in the midst of an injury plagued 39-catch season and Jenkins was in the Big Ten, Crabtree was quietly producing like a No. 1 NFL wide receiver during the latter stages of 2011.

If he can maintain his current health, it’s a title he could hold in 2012, even with the added competition on the roster.

“I know a lot of the new faces get a lot of the attention,” Smith said. “But he’s doing really well here.”

* Below is a look at how Crabtree ranked among the wide receivers that finished among the NFL’s top 10 in receptions and yards in 2011. The numbers are from each wideout’s final 11 games of the regular season:

Eric Branch compared some numbers on his twitter feed against Crabtree's last 11 games.

Crabtree: 61 Catches, 742 Yards, 4 TDs

Steve Smith 52/785/4
Dwayne Bowe 58/785/4
Mike Wallace 41/657/5

I couldn't believe all the fans in the Barrows and Maiocco Q&As this off-season that were proposing Crabtree trades.

Because fans have short-term memories and all they remember is NFCCG game. Not realizing that Crabs made HUGE strides once he fully recovered from that foot. I honestly believe had he missed the first 3 games and let the foot heal completely instead of reaggrevating in the first game and missing the following week, his numbers would have been even better. You could tell in that first Seattle game, he just wasnt right. He should have taken more time.

Goldson needs to get himself in camp. This stalemate isn't going to work in his favor. He should have learned his lesson last offseason when no one wanted him in free agency. Even though he is coming off a Pro Bowl season, the 49ers aren't going to give him the mega deal he is seeking. Shame because he is one of my favorite players on the squad.

1. It isn't camp.
2. Learned last season? Like when he held out for a contract late into camp and had the best year of his career?

1. It isn't camp.
2. Learned last season? Like when he held out for a contract late into camp and had the best year of his career?

OTAs, whatever. He's not getting the same kind of training by sitting at home or training on his own.

And no, like when no one on the market would pay him the deal he was seeking last offseason. The 49ers aren't going to break bread for a safety. Goldson is just wasting time. And I wouldn't say that missing training with your team every offseason is good for your career. He had a career year last season, but that is an exception to the rule of what usually happens when players hold out. Chris Johnson held out for a while and look what happened. Not saying this issue with Goldson will get to that point, but he's just wasting time with this stalemate if he thinks he's going to get Weddle money. No team is going to give him that.

OTAs, whatever. He's not getting the same kind of training by sitting at home or training on his own.

And no, like when no one on the market would pay him the deal he was seeking last offseason. The 49ers aren't going to break bread for a safety. Goldson is just wasting time. And I wouldn't say that missing training with your team every offseason is good for your career. He had a career year last season, but that is an exception to the rule of what usually happens when players hold out. Chris Johnson held out for a while and look what happened. Not saying this issue with Goldson will get to that point, but he's just wasting time with this stalemate if he thinks he's going to get Weddle money. No team is going to give him that.

This is normal for franchise players. I dont see what the big deal is. Honestly, they should just give him the money. He wants Weddle type money. I think he's earned it. He's had a very good year, 2 out of the 3 years he's been a starter. What else is there to prove? Its hard to find even decent safety play in this league. We have a very good one who is still young and yet to reach his prime. I never question Baalke but I have to wonder why we chose to pay a 32 year old CB 8 mil a year instead of locking up Goldson long term for the same kind of money. Not a knock on Rogers as a player, and it was a good deal for the Niners, considering what other CBs in free agency recieved, but I just think when you look at the long view, locking up young talent at a position like FS just seemed like a no brainer over a good but aging CB. In Baalke we trust, so I guess I'll wait and see how it plays out.

And honestly I like the fact Goldson isnt there. I want Spillman and the rookies to get as many reps and on-field coaching as possible, considering they are the only depth behind Goldson and Whitner and none have any real experience. I want the staff to get a really good look at what these guys behind the starters, can and can't do and respond accordingly before TC.

This is normal for franchise players. I dont see what the big deal is. Honestly, they should just give him the money. He wants Weddle type money. I think he's earned it. He's had a very good year, 2 out of the 3 years he's been a starter. What else is there to prove? Its hard to find even decent safety play in this league. We have a very good one who is still young and yet to reach his prime. I never question Baalke but I have to wonder why we chose to pay a 32 year old CB 8 mil a year instead of locking up Goldson long term for the same kind of money. Not a knock on Rogers as a player, and it was a good deal for the Niners, considering what other CBs in free agency recieved, but I just think when you look at the long view, locking up young talent at a position like FS just seemed like a no brainer over a good but aging CB. In Baalke we trust, so I guess I'll wait and see how it plays out.

And honestly I like the fact Goldson isnt there. I want Spillman and the rookies to get as many reps and on-field coaching as possible, considering they are the only depth behind Goldson and Whitner and none have any real experience. I want the staff to get a really good look at what these guys behind the starters, can and can't do and respond accordingly before TC.

Its just minor, but Rogers is actually 31 (in July) and "only" getting $7.3 a year. 4 years, 29.3 is his deal IIRC.

^^^^^ Still too much money imo and by looking at the contract, I see him gone as soon as March 2013 unless he matches his 2011 season. Either way, I do agree in regards to that Baalke should have paid Goldson first and then try to keep Rogers. To me, losing Goldson would be worse than losing Rogers. And if Goldson is looking for Weddle type money, I would probably give it to him with the last two years backloaded as much as possible.

Depends on how he plays. If he's the only player who declines on defense, then I think that its a definite possibility especially if Goldson at least matches his 2011 season because would you rather pay Goldson or Rogers? I would rather pay Goldson. If Rogers plays as good or better than he did in 2011, then he stays for 2013 but either way, I dont see him still being a 49er after 2013.

Since its slow around this time of the year I figured it'd be a perfect time to go over the roster and breakdown each position. I'll list all the players on the roster at a given position and list who I believe will make the 53(never too early to start the guessing). Today I'll start with the TEs because Im very much intrigued by what we're going to do there. TEs currently on the roster:

Vernon Davis
Delaine Walker
Nate Byham
Konrad Reuland
Garrett Celek

I think we all agree that VD and Walker are locks. Reports from OTAs have said that Byham appears to be laboring with that brace over his knee. Past dealings with young players who have yet to establish themsleves, coming off major injuries(Scott McKillop and Phillip Adams) has shown that we wont wait for Byham to regain his previous form. Either he shows well during TC or he will be cut. I really really like Reuland. Not sure if he's ready yet for the 53 but Im not sure we can stash him on the pratice squad another year, the way teams are desperate for pass-catchers at the TE position. I really hope he makes it. But my gut tells me they will try to keep him on the pratice squad yet again. Which leads me to my next point...

Just trying to read the tea leaves here but it would not shock me to see us carry only 2 TEs. I think the fact that we see Jimbaugh taking two DEs in Tukuafu and Dobbs and having them both work with the offense at FB and TE respectively isnt just some mad scienctist type of thing for OTAs. Think about it for a second....both are virtual locks to make the roster. RJF is the primary back-up to all the spots along the D-Line and we have a iron man in Cowboy, who never misses a game. Its very unlikely Dobbs or Tukuafu see many defensive snaps this season. But its likely at least one, if not both will be active on Sundays(probably Dobbs because he does play STs). With the talent we have at RB and WR now and the bodies we have at each position, your going to have to trim the fat some where to make room. In using two defensive guys to plug into our jumbo packages, you eliminate the need to carry a 3rd TE for just this specific purpose. And lets not forget you'll probably have O-Lineman like Kilgore and Person for this purpose too. This is just a shot in the dark, but this what I can see happening to free up a slot somewhere else among the 53. Dont really know if I like us only keeping 2 TEs but we did only keep 3 OLBs last year and got away with it. Jimbaugh's a gambling man so we'll have to see if my hunch is correct. So for now, Im going with only Walker and VD on my 53.

Good point and besides that Dobbs used to play TE in high school(different level and stuff i know) so it could be that they go for only 2 and then when needed they hopefully can call Reuland up from the practice squad when VD or Walker has an injury. Not sure if i totally agree with the way of thinking but the added depth at WR makes the pass catching at TE maybe slightly less important than last year where basically VD and in a smaller form Walker where the main options with Crabtree.

I don't see us keeping 3 TE's either. We have a surplus of talent at RB and WR this year. I don't see us chipping away from the defense at all, nor the OL. So TE makes sense. Byham is a good blocker but i'd prefer keeping an extra OL as a blocking TE. Plus he's coming off injury. Reuland can stay on the PS too. He's a 2nd year UDFA TE with 0 game experience, he'll pass waivers easily.

The best-looking player on Tuesday may have been Michael Crabtree, who looked very quick in and out of breaks and who caught several passes in the middle of the field. Crabtree lined up in the slot position during one red-zone play, and that's where he may see a lot of action on third downs this year.

That has to be the single most encouraging thing I've read this off-season. I've been bitching about this for 2 years now and seems we finally have the pieces on the outside to really get the most out of Crabs abilities in the slot and allow him to operate in the middle of the field more.

During the handful of open practices the past month, I’ve seen an on-target pass clang off his facemask (not a good look) and I’ve also witnessed several high-degree-of-difficulty grabs.

On Tuesday, it was more of the same.

The good: At one point, he reached behind his body at full-sprint and snatched a wayward pass – a reception that required some serious strength in his “E.T.” fingers.

The bad: While running across the middle he hesitated and then stopped his route, apparently trying to settle into an area between defenders. Josh Johnson, who expected him to keep running, huddled with the rookie after the pass fell incomplete.

Sounds like our new rookie is having some hand troubles at the wide out spot.I hope he still gets the chance to have some game time.Better not be a waisted pick.

Yeah, cut the bum already!

Patience, young grasshopper. Its only OTAs, and we have Crabs, Moss, and Manningham at WR now as well. No rush. If you're expecting an A.J. Green type impact, you're going to be disappointed. I'm fine seeing some playing time this year. Improvement in year 2. Starter in year 3.

I can assure you that it did put us under a tremendous amount of stress and forced us to basically operate under the circumstances we were under, which was totally different than it is in a normal off-season.

We are so much further ahead. At this point last year, when we hadn’t even seen a guy. There’s a tremendous amount of value in the off-season and our players are taking full advantage of that. I think it’s going to really help us.

(What can you put a finger on?)

I go back to situational football – red-zone, third down. The things that involve the most moving parts, the most timing in the passing game. Last year we might have been a hair off. Now, we’re having a chance to start over and hopefully it shows on Sundays.

(What more of percentage can you install now that you couldn’t install last year?)

A lot more. Now, we installed a lot more last year. We really didn’t know a whole lot about our guys. So we kind of had to throw it all against the board and see what stuck. But a great percentage of that faded away quickly. I can’t put a percentage on it, but a lot more.

(Were the red-zone and third-down issues related to execution or did you need another layer of complexity?)

It’s probably a little bit of both. I mean, it all comes down to execution and a lot of it is time on task. The more you do something, the more you’re going to get out of it. We’ve got more time so I think we’ll be more efficient and maybe be able to branch out a little more, too.